Fast Food and Counter Workers Salary
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Pennsylvania make a median of $28,570 a year, or about $13.74 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $36K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $30,083 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 65.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $29K get you in Pennsylvania?
About fast food and counter workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Fast food and counter workers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $29K locally vs. $31K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 67.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level fast food and counter workers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $36K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $32K | +13% | 69,080 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $29K | +2% | 9,110 |
| Lancaster | $29K | +0% | 6,870 |
| Pittsburgh | $28K | -1% | 27,460 |
| Lebanon | $28K | -1% | 1,490 |
| Reading | $28K | -2% | 4,280 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $28K | -2% | 8,030 |
| York-Hanover | $28K | -2% | 5,240 |
| State College | $28K | -3% | 2,320 |
| Gettysburg | $28K | -3% | 920 |
| Chambersburg | $28K | -4% | 1,580 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $28K | -4% | 6,450 |
| Williamsport | $27K | -4% | 1,410 |
| Erie | $27K | -7% | 3,510 |
| Altoona | $26K | -9% | 1,800 |
| Johnstown | $25K | -13% | 1,380 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
Compare to other states
Track fast food and counter workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a fast food and counter worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $29K, rent takes 67.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fast food and counter workers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fast food and counter workers typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,322/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 102% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fast food and counter worker a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $29K locally vs. $31K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for fast food and counter workers?
Pennsylvania pays $29K median vs. the U.S. average of $31K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $30K — below the national median.
How much do fast food and counter workers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $28,570 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,030, and experienced fast food and counter workers can clear $35,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,010/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 67.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fast food and counter workers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fast food and counter workers salary is worth about $30,083 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fast food and counter workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.